Baseball

Braves pick up three victories in rainy week

At a glance

Below are the coming schedules for the Liberty, Olentangy and Orange baseball teams:

LIBERTY

*April 25 -- At Marysville

*April 26 -- Home vs. Hilliard Davidson

April 27 -- Home vs. Tipp City Tippecanoe

*April 29 -- At Davidson

*May 1 -- Home vs. Dublin Coffman

Of note: The Patriots were 11-4 overall and 4-2 in the OCC-Central before April 24.

OLENTANGY

*April 25 -- Home vs. Franklin Heights

*April 26 -- Home vs. Watkins Memorial

April 27 -- Home vs. Tippecanoe

*April 29 -- At Watkins Memorial

*May 1 -- At Mount Vernon

Of note: The Braves were 12-2 overall and 4-1 in the OCC-Capital before April 23.

ORANGE

*April 26 -- At Franklin Heights

April 27 -- Home vs. Dublin Scioto and Whetstone

*April 29 -- Home vs. Franklin Heights

*May 1 -- At Big Walnut

Of note: The Pioneers were 14-1 overall and 6-1 in the OCC-Capital before April 24.

*League contest

The Olentangy High School baseball team dodged raindrops to pick up three consecutive victories last week.

The Braves were 12-2 overall and 4-1 in the OCC-Capital Division after beating New Albany 10-6 on April 22.

Olentangy had a pair of league games postponed last week against Franklin Heights. The games were rescheduled for April 23 and Thursday, April 25, at home.

After losing to Orange 8-1 on April 15, the Braves bounced back with 15 hits in a 15-7 victory in the rematch April 18. It was the Pioneers' first loss of the season.

On April 20, Olentangy swept a doubleheader from Worthington Kilbourne, winning both games 5-4.

Through 13 games, the Braves were hitting .306 as a team, led by junior Tim Feasel (OF/2B) with a .439 batting average, .477 on-base percentage and a .610 slugging percentage. Senior Griffin Binkley (OF) was hitting .395 with a .425 on-base percentage, and senior Christian Brett (SS/OF) was batting .347 with a .510 slugging percentage. Sophomore Joe McGuinness (C) had a .333 batting average with a .545 slugging percentage.

Senior Casey Stanley was 3-1 with a 2.40 ERA and one save while striking out 20 in 23 innings. Senior Jacob Kaylor was 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA and junior closer Case Troyer was 2-0 with two saves.

Orange continues strong performances

Orange was 14-1 overall and 6-1 in the OCC-Capital after beating Delaware 5-1 on April 22.

After losing to Olentangy, the Pioneers swept Mount Vernon in league play, winning 7-1 on April 17 and 3-2 on April 20, and defeated Briggs 9-1 in a game also played April 20.

Orange was batting .366 as a team through 10 games. Senior Alec McCurry (C/INF/OF) was hitting .531 with 14 runs and seven RBI, and senior Paul Trick (3B) was batting .464 with 10 runs and 14 RBI.

Trick was 3-0 without surrendering an earned run in 20 innings. He had 23 strikeouts while allowing only four walks and 11 hits.

Niggemeyer setting pace for Liberty

Liberty was 11-4 overall and 4-2 in the OCC-Central after defeating Westland 11-0 on April 22.

The Patriots won a pair of league games last week over Central Crossing (8-0 on April 16) and Marysville (3-1 on April 17). They also beat Hilliard Bradley 10-0 in five innings April 20.

A game at Marysville was rescheduled from April 19 to Thursday, April 25.

Through 14 games, junior Jacob Niggemeyer (3B) led Liberty with a .476 batting average, 15 RBI and five doubles, and he had one home run. Junior Morgan Rankey (OF) was hitting .458 with six RBI and junior Danny Kirchner (SS) was batting .413.

Senior Max Gunn (1B) was batting .409 with six RBI, junior Marcus Wechselberger (1B/OF) was hitting .400 with one homer and 10 RBI and sophomore Cameron Comer (SS/C) was hitting .357 with four doubles and seven RBI.

Niggemeyer also was 3-1 with 30 strikeouts and a 2.24 ERA in 25 innings. Junior Mitchell Griffiths was 2-1 with two saves, 18 strikeouts and a 4.36 ERA in 17 2/3 innings.